He could not understand what it meant, until it suddenly occurred to him that the rod was a branch of witch-hazel! Here the audience drew a long breath, the whole thing was satisfactorily explained.

Every one knew the magical power of witch-hazel.[2] [Footnote 2: This and many other passages, as the reader will notice, are quoted verbatim from the manuscript volume.] Jethro further testified that Mistress Dulcibel freely admitted to him that her horse was a witch; never speaking of the mare in fact but as a "little witch." As might be expected, the horse was a most vicious animal, worth nothing to anybody save one who was a witch himself.

He thought it ought to be stoned, or otherwise killed, at once.
The Rev.Master Noyes suggested that if it were handed over to his reverend brother Parris, he might be able, by a course of religious exercises, to cast out the evil spirit and render the animal serviceable.

The apostles and disciples, it would be remembered, often succeeded in casting out evil spirits; though sometimes, we are told, they lamentably failed.
The magistrates here consulted a few minutes, and Squire Hathorne then ordered that the black mare should be handed over to the Rev.Master Parris for his use, and that he might endeavor to exorcise the evil spirit that possessed it.
Dulcibel had regarded with calm and serious eyes the concourse around her while this wild evidence was being given.

Notwithstanding the peril of her position, she could not avoid smiling occasionally at the absurdity of the charges made against her; while at other times her brow and cheeks glowed with indignation at the maliciousness of her accusers.
Then she thought, how could I ever have injured these neighbors so seriously that they have been led to conspire together to take my life?
Oh, if I had never come to Salem, to a place so overflowing with malice, evil-speaking and all uncharitableness! Where there was so much sanctimonious talk about religion, and such an utter absence of it in those that prated the most of its possession.